Coco Gauff has called for more privacy for players after she was caught on camera smashing her racket following a shock Australian Open quarter-final loss to Elina Svitolina.
Svitolina needed just 59 minutes to swat aside an out-of-sorts Gauff 6-1 6-2 and she is through to the last four at Melbourne Park for the first time – just over three years after giving birth to her daughter Skai.
Gauff’s disappointment was clear as she walked quickly off court, and she admitted she tried to find a place without cameras to take her frustration on her racket, smashing it repeatedly on the ground.
But it was captured by the tournament’s behind-the-scenes coverage and quickly broadcast on TV and social media.
“I tried to go somewhere where there was no cameras,” said Gauff. “Certain moments – the same thing happened to Aryna [Sabalenka] after I played her in the final of the US Open – I feel like they don’t need to broadcast.
“So maybe some conversations can be had, because I feel like, at this tournament, the only private place we have is the locker room.”
Gauff had no regrets about her actions, saying: “I don’t want to lash out on my team. They’re good people. They don’t deserve that, and I know I’m emotional. So I just took the minute to go and do that.
“I don’t think it’s a bad thing. I try not to do it on court in front of kids and things like that, but I do know I need to let out that emotion.”
Gauff’s technical problems
It was a day to forget for the frustrated Gauff
Gauff has struggled since winning her second Grand Slam title at the French Open last year, despite hiring biomechanics specialist Gavin MacMillan in August to overhaul her serve and address technical issues with her forehand.
The American was profligate, particularly on serve, and statistics here of three winners and 26 unforced errors told their own story.
“I tried my best to be positive, but I just felt like nothing for me was working,” she said. “That’s a bit frustrating when you are out there and you feel like your strengths aren’t really doing their thing.
“There were many matches watching Serena [Williams] play that she would play bad and be able to scrap those out and win the title. I just need to figure out how to get through those bad days.”
Svitolina: Mental health break has fuelled run to first Australian Open semi
While it was a bad day for Gauff, it was one of the best of Svitolina’s career, with the Ukrainian through to her fourth Grand Slam semi-final and second since she returned to the tour following the birth of her daughter in 2022.
Svitolina was the latest player to take a break at the end of last season for mental health reasons but she began this year by winning the WTA tournament in Auckland and will now return to the top 10.
“It was difficult decision in one hand, but then I spoke with my team and family,” Svitolina told media. “If I would keep pushing last year, I think I would not start here. I would be exhausted, and even not sure if I would be injury-free.
“So for me it was important to just step back, and I’m very happy that I did that. Of course, now it’s easy to say because the results have been great … but I still think it’s something that helped me.”
Asked whether she surprised herself with how quickly she rediscovered her form, Svitolina said: “I tried to trust myself. When I’m fresh, when I’m mentally ready to face difficult situations, then I can play well.
“I’m very pleased with the tournament so far and it’s always been my dream to come back after maternity leave in the top 10. Unfortunately it didn’t happen last year but I told my coach this was my goal for this season.
“It means the world to me. I try to push myself, to give myself this motivation to continue.”
Svitolina next faces Belarusian top seed Aryna Sabalenka, against whom she holds a 1-5 losing record.
“It’s no secret she’s a very powerful player,” Svitolina said. “The power in all parts of her game is her strength. I think she’s very consistent for the past years with everything that she does on the court. I’ll have to be ready for that, try to find the ways and the little holes, little opportunities in her game.”
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